Thebes, Royal Palace, throne room, half a year later
Hatshepsut liked simple and plain dresses, but could only wear them when not attending important meetings or receiving guests at the Palace. Such dresses allowed her to walk free, to sit with her legs tucked up, to lay down in the shade of the trees in the gardens of the Palace, or to read papyri as she knelt in the library known as the House of Life. Like all the women outside, she also used wigs but only when it was necessary. In other words, when the Court required this custom. Since she had become the Divine Spouse of Amun, she shaved her head every day. Earlier, she let her hair grow, but she liked to have it short now. Hatshepsut walked with beautiful grace and wore mostly masculine sandals made of skins of quality, soft, and thin
